MINSK. May 30 (Interfax) - Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko has been invested with duties as a deputy prime minister for Belarus's affairs in the Union State and relations with Russia, the presidential press service said.
The relevant decree signed by President Alexander Lukashenko on May 30 says that, in exercising his duties as deputy prime minister, Semashko would represent Belarus in contacts with Russian officials and government agencies and agencies of the Union State regarding bilateral cooperation.
He will also be tasked with submitting proposals to the government, Belarusian government bodies, regional executive committees, the Minsk City Executive Committee, and other institutions and organizations concerning trade-economic and investment cooperation with Russia.
The ambassador will also coordinate activities of national government bodies and other organizations subordinated to the government and Belarus's representatives in the Union State's bodies, issue mandatory instructions to them, and control their implementation, it said.
"Semashko will also be personally responsible for promoting Belarus's national interests in the Union State and in relations with Russia," it said.